Kalanchoe plant named Majestic

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Majestic, characterized particularly by its large, scarlet colors, excellent flower keeping qualities, mounded growth habit with flowers being above the foliage, and by its floriferous habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivarKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe, and known by thecultivar name Majestic. Majestic was discovered by me through controlledbreeding by crossing Mikkelsen Seedling No. 84-2848-2 (seed parent) withAttraction (pollen parent). Attraction is disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,888.

Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings has shown that the unique featuresof Majestic are stabilized and are reproduced true to type in successivepropagations.

The following characteristics distinguish Majestic from both its parentvarieties and other cultivated Kalanchoes of this type known and used inthe floriculture industry, including the comparison cultivar Royalty,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,254. Color references are to theRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.).

1. Majestic has scarlet rose (45B) flowers that contain more anthocyaninpigment than the flowers of Royalty which are rose (51A) with a smallamount of anthocyanin pigment.

2. Flowering time for Majestic is 4 to 7 days earlier than Royalty undersummer conditions, and 10 to 14 days earlier under winter growingconditions, from start of short day treatment.

3. Average flower diameter of Majestic is 15 to 16 mm while Royalty hasa much smaller average flower diameter of 12 to 13 mm.

4. Average height of Majestic is 18 to 20 cm while Royalty is 22 to 24cm high when grown under similar conditions.

5. Keeping quality of individual flowers of Majestic is three to fivedays longer than Royalty, and the length of time plants of Majestic willcontinue to flower after short day treatment is one to two weeks longerthan for Royalty.

6. The leaf color and size of both Royalty and Majestic are similar.However, Royalty has deeper cut crenations than Majestic and there ismore lobing to the Royalty leaf.

7. Internodes, peduncles and pedicels are shorter on Majestic thanRoyalty, thus giving the overall plant of Majestic a more denseappearance. The total inflorescence of Majestic presents a solid mass offlowers without openings.

8. The lower branches of Majestic tend to grow outward and not as longas the main stem and upper branches, thereby presenting a moundedappearance. All branches and the main stem of Royalty finish at the sameheight resulting in an upright growing plant with flowers at the top.

9. Mature stigmas on Royalty are white with a reddish cast, whileMajestic has white mature stigmas.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates in front perspectiveview the overall appearance of Majestic, showing the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of thistype. The photograph was taken on Mar. 23, 1990 under natural light onan overcast day, under double poly greenhouse covering at Ashtabula,Ohio.

The following is a detailed description of Majestic, based on plantsproduced in greenhouses in Ashtabula, Ohio during the late spring tosummer season of the year. Plants were grown in 10 cm pots andmeasurements were taken 12 weeks after rooted cuttings were planted.Height measurements were taken from the soil line of the container. Theplants were grown at 65°-68° F. night temperatures, under 3500-4000 footcandles of light, and 240 ppm nitrogen, 240 ppm potassium, and 175 ppmphosphorous nutritional levels with trace elements added. 5000 ppm B-9was applied week three and week five of short day treatment of the sixweek short day treatment (14 hours dark) period. Habit of growth, plantheight, flowering time, size of leaves and peduncle length will begreatly influenced by nutritional and environmental conditions.

Colors references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Parentage: A controlled cross between female parent Mikkelsen SeedlingNo. 84-2848-2 and male parent Attraction.

Propagation:

(A) Type cutting.--Stem tip cutting up to 3 cm long.

(B) Time to root.--10 days at 21° C. in summer; 14 days at 21° C. inwinter.

(C) Rooting habit.--Abundant, fine, fibrous roots.

Plant description:

(A) Habit and form of growth.--Compact; flower clusters are held abovefoliage; excellent basal branching results in mounded growth habit.Environment and use of growth regulators will play a role in finalheight.

(B) Foliage description.--Leaves simple and opposite. 1. Size: Average;full grown leaves on a plant when grown in a 10 cm pot are 10 to 11 cmlong and 5.5 to 6.0 cm wide. 2. Shape: Ovate; apex obtuse, base rounded.3. Texture: Glabrous, coriaceous, and succulent. 4. Margin: Crenate;shallow lobed. 5. Color: Young foliage, top side 137B; under side 146B;mature foliage, top side 147A; underside 147B.

Flowering description:

(A) Flowering habits.--Inflorescence is a cyme. Terminal flower on mainaxis opens first, followed by the terminal flowers of the side branches,continuing with the subsequent development of branches in theinflorescence. Inflorescence is made up of the main stem and up to tenor more lateral branches.

(B) Natural flowering season.--Early January. Flowering time undercontrolled daylength at 20° C. in summer is 10 weeks; in winter 111/2weeks. Flowering time depends on temperature, light intensity and othergrowing conditions.

(C) Flower buds.--Oblong, up to 7 mm long before showing color,developing tubular as flower petals mature; sheathed in four greensepals.

(D) Flowers borne.--On compound dichasial cymes, primary peduncle 4 mmin diameter just below the first branch of the inflorescence; lengthwill vary depending on growing conditions. Pedicels vary in lengthdepending on where they are located in the inflorescence.

(E) Quantity of flowers.--Very floriferous with main stem plus 10 ormore laterals each having from 30 to 50 flowers.

(F) Petals.--1. Shape: Almost rounded, top cuspidate. 2. Color, top sidewhen opening: 45B fading to 45C to 45D; under side 47D. 3. Number ofpetals: Four. 4. Size: Individual petals 6 mm wide and 8 mm long;flowers 15 mm in diameter.

Reproductive organs:

1. Stamens.--Number, 8. a. Anther shape: Flat, elliptical; coloryellowish green. b. Filament color: Light green. c. Pollen color:Yellow.

2. Pistils.--a. Stigma shape: Flat; mature color, whitish. b. Stylecolor: Green. c. Ovaries: Four, size 6 mm, color green.

Disease resistance: Majestic has shown resistance to Powdery Mildew andno other disease problems have been noted to date.

Other important characteristics: Majestic is part of a series ofKalanchoe plants that include Revelry, Splendor, Keepsake and Heirloom(all disclosed in pending plant patent applications of applicant) thatare similar in flowering time, height, branching and response to growthregulators. This allows the greenhouse growers to handle all fivedistinctly different flower colors at the same time from a singleplanting date and use the same growing methods on each to end up with auniform crop. The end results are easier crops for the growers toproduce and higher quality crops. All cultivars are ideal for 10 and 15cm pot production.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant namedMajestic, as illustrated and described.